←Recommendations of Marianas Trench (Part One of The Second World Trilogy)

I’m this gorgeous and urgent play, Sickles seamlessly pairs a deeply felt love story with a troubling vision of a dystopian, divided America. The play unites these elements seamlessly, envying intelligent social commentary with pathos and humor. I was especially struck by Sickles’ extraordinary ability to capture and express the complex thoughts, dreams, and fears of his young characters through highly realistic dialogue. He makes playwriting looks absolutely effortless and yet there is so much mastery to be found in this outstanding play!

Finally, we have a play that celebrates the unique love that two nerdy prepubescent boys can have for one another brilliantly drawn against a terrifyingly prescient backdrop of a fractured America. Scott's ability to have pen pals bring letters to life and also use a vast amount of scientific information in active, character-specific, and even quirkily romantic ways is just breathtaking. All while the characters are animated by the real threat of persecution from MAGA-inspired secessionists. You will definitely laugh and cry...and you will be on the edge of your seat. I love this play with all my heart.

This is such a beautiful play. Set in a harrowing dystopian U.S., Sickles' expertly written play feels urgent and timely despite its imagined-future setting. I love the characters and the surprising moments of humor amid all the heartache. Lingers long after reading and deserves many productions.

At the heart of MARIANAS TRENCH is a yearning for connection. Love how Scott Sickles handles the correspondence of pre-adolescent heroes Teddy and Anzor (redactions and all!). The old-school epistolatory dimension in this alt-future drama is clever as hell - and gives the action a rich narrative layering. From the depths of their isolation, these two endearing characters combine imaginations to go deeper - ah the clownfish, moon jellies, Humboldt squid! - to the bottom of the ocean. I love this marvelous play for its wisdom and beauty - would love to see it staged for the light design alone!!!!

I feel as though I just completed a master class in playwriting. Beautifully written, fully developed characters that we instantly care for, and a story that pulls us in and refuses to let go. Scott Sickles sets his play in a divided America that is uncomfortably close to where the country is headed. I found myself feeling despair and hopeful for Anzor and Teddy. And though I fear what may be ahead for these two, I have no choice but to finish the trilogy!

Moving and sensitively written, Sickles both diagnoses the problems our era faces and suggests the care and tenderness with which we must fight them. Powerful theater that plays beautifully.

Wow, this messed me up. (In a good way!) It drew me in right from the first scene--a real page-turner. Very powerful and poignant. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

I'm so glad I found this play. Sickles has a way of writing young characters that I wish I would have been friends with when I was younger. And these young characters I want to protect...save so badly! All the characters are very strong and distinct and the way the two children find respite in this harsh world through storytelling is very relatable and tragically sweet. This would be a dream to design. I'm glad there are 2 more parts, I am not ready to say good-bye to these wonderful characters in a nightmare world.

Outstanding. Simply outstanding. I had never really considered the fact that I have never really seen a lot of depictions of half Koreans (like me) in a play. Certainly not in principle roles. I had no real idea how much it mattered to me until I was knee deep into this brilliant dystopian tale. It is an eerie mirror of the modern political landscape we traverse today. I do look forward to reading the rest of this trilogy and strongly recommend to anyone to read this play. I would love to see this trilogy in production.

In Sickles's dystopian vision, states have seceded and formed an extreme right-wing paradise where anyone who is not white, straight, and Christian is persecuted, and state surveillance to insure conformity extends even to analyzing and redacting pen-pal letters between children. A family with too many secrets is enmeshed in this nightmare, and their fate is the focus of this masterful, deeply unsettling play, part of a trilogy as chilling and addictive as "The Handmaid's Tale." Read it. Read it and weep.